SLED DOG RACING

Ryan Redington on Tuesday won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, bringing his six dogs off the Bering Sea ice to the finish line on Nome’s main street.

Redington, 40, is the grandson of Joe Redington Sr., known as the “Father of the Iditarod.” He helped co-found the arduous race across Alaska that was first held in 1973.

Redington, who is Inupiat, becomes the sixth Alaska native musher to win the world’s most famous sled dog race.

The nearly 1,000-mile race started March 5 in Willow for 33 mushers, who traveled over two mountain ranges, the frozen Yukon River and on the Bering Sea ice. Since then, three mushers have scratched. A fan-friendly ceremonial start was held in Anchorage the day before.

It was the smallest field ever to start a race, one short of the first race run.

Among those who scratched was defending champion Brent Sass, who was leading when he withdrew Saturday over concerns for his health because of periodontal issues.

He was doing OK and resting in the community of Unalakleet, he posted on Instagram Sunday. The Iditarod was caring for his dogs, he said.

HOCKEY

ECHL: Forward Alex Kile was reassigned to the Maine Mariners from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and goaltender Michael DiPietro was recalled to the Providence Bruins by the Boston Bruins.

The Mariners also acquired forward Carter Johnson from the Wheeling Nailers in exchange for forward Keltie Jeri-Leon.

Kile returns to the Mariners after his most recent recall to Lehigh Valley on Feb. 28. He’s been up and down between the AHL and ECHL over the last month. In 26 games for the Mariners this season, Kile has 27 points (11 goals, 16 assists). A Mariner since the inaugural campaign of 2018-19, he’s set Mariners career franchise records for points and goals this season.

DiPietro is on an NHL contract with the Boston Bruins and will look to make his first appearance with Providence.

TENNIS

BNP PARIBAS OPEN: Coco Gauff rallied from a break down in the third set to beat Swedish qualifier Rebecca Peterson, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 and reach the quarterfinals at Indian Wells, California.

In other fourth-round matches, No. 7 Maria Sakkari beat 17th-seeded Karolina Pliskova, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

On the men’s side, defending champion Taylor Fritz moved into the quarters with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Marton Fucsovics.

No. 5 Daniil Medvedev outlasted 12th-seeded Alexander Zverev, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), 7-5 and No. 10 Cameron Norrie beat sixth-seeded Andrey Rublev, 6-2, 6-4.

SOCCER

WORLD CUP: The expanded World Cup in North America got even more supersized.

The governing body of soccer increased the size of the 2026 tournament for the second time — six years after the first — by approving a bigger group stage for the inaugural 48-team event.

By retaining groups of four teams instead of moving to three, FIFA has created a 104-game schedule that will last nearly six weeks in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The final is scheduled for July 19.

The 16 host cities — 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada — now have 24 extra games to stage on top of the 80 they already had for the inaugural 48-team tournament.

• Morocco will join Spain and Portugal in a bid to host the 2030 World Cup, the African nation announced.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Erling Haaland scored a record-equaling five goals in a Champions League match to put Manchester City on course for the quarterfinals.

The Norway international became the fastest player to reach 30 goals in the competition when putting the English champions 2-0 up against RB Leipzig in the round-of-16 second leg at Etihad Stadium at Manchester, England.

At 22 years, 236 days old, he is also the youngest player to reach that landmark, surpassing Kylian Mbappé, who was 22 years, 352 days when he scored his 30th Champions League goal.

AUTO RACING

NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson is adding Coke and COTA to his NASCAR schedule.

The seven-time NASCAR champion said he will drive the No. 84 Chevrolet in the March 26 race at the Circuit of the Americas and the May 28 Coca-Cola 600 as part of his limited race lineup this season.

Johnson returned to NASCAR this season after a two-year hiatus when he bought into the ownership group of Legacy Motor Club and signed on as a part-time driver.